Showing posts with label Wonder Years. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wonder Years. Show all posts

Monday, July 31, 2006

Happy 80th Grandpa B!

Saturday was my Grandpa B's 80th Birthday. For his birthday I sent him an 8x10 scan of this photo taken shortly after Christmas in 1977. I was four, and being from a Northern Californian town where it never snowed, the fresh snowfall was irresistable. I remember my heart pounding as we ventured over to the hill. I think it was my first sled ride ever, and Grandpa set the sled up right smack in the middle of the giant Illinois country street hill in front of the farm house.



Not only was I going to be whizzing down a monster valley of snow, but it was a STREET. Streets were dangerous. It seemed parents were always shouting to their little ones to look both ways before crossing a street. And here I was sledding on one! Despite the nerves, I trusted that Grandpa could stop the world if need be. They all can, right?

Many of my fondest memories as a child were born on Grandpa's pig farm. Sadly, the farm and farmhouse were sold over a decade ago. However, the memories feel like yesterday. I'm so thankful for those morning visits to see the sows and their babies, the kittens tucked and hidden in every abandon pig house, the truck and tractor rides, climbing in the barn hay, feeding the horses, swimming in the large water trough, the visits to the musty attic to peek at the old dolls and toys, my first bee sting, my first (and only) shocking encounter with an electric fence, and feeling completely safe to wander for hours on acres upon acres of property.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

When Things Were Simple

I was going through some pictures tonight and this one made me smile and my heart ache. That's me. My grandfather's on my right, and my grandmother is on my left. I was their first grandchild. We all look so happy. And tan.

Faith is just entering the stage where she tries to grab your nose and take it off for a closer look. But I still have the silver bells on the shoes to look forward to.

Right now I feel baptized in molasses with motherhood. I can't even begin to imagine grandmotherhood. What is it like to hold the child of your child? It must be incredible.

I really miss her.

Friday, December 30, 2005

A Trip Down Memory Lane With Daddy

We are having some space issues with storage in our house. So this winter we are trying to slowly go through our storage and pitch and donate much of those things we have been holding on to for way too long.

During our Christmas packing up, Ken pulled out a huge duffel bag that contained all of his Lacrosse gear and jerseys from years ago. The headgear Jack is wearing in this picture must weigh 10 lbs. alone, and Grace is sporting a jersey from a lacrosse All Star game where Dad snagged a hat trick.